For all those who have been hoping to shop in the newly upgraded and enlarged Library Thrift Store, we proudly announce that we opened our doors on March 7 for Market Day.  Our ribbon cutting ceremony was held on March 12 and grand opening was March 14.  The store is simply beautiful and refreshed inside and out.  New building features include wall dividers to aid with displays, public restrooms, an expanded storage and work area for employees, and a much larger parking lot. 

Inside the store, not only are there larger spaces for merchandise, but also improved elements for organization and more convenient displays.  Books are now grouped and labeled by subjects from Texana to Arts and Crafts. A charming seasonal décor room features a year-round Christmas area, rotating current holiday tables and shelves, and huge new flower displays.  Other new walls are placed to showcase shoes, housewares, and wall art. A separate room features clothing racks and new dressing rooms. There are some amazingly nice furniture pieces near the front doors.  Even more convenience is provided by the enlarged cash register area featuring additional space for additional checkout lines. It has been a long wait to realize these improvements, but the community will be able to use this facility to donate items, fund the public library, and save money on some amazing finds.


 - Marilyn Barr, Board Member & Thrift Store Volunteer

We are thankful for our Library Thrift Store Volunteers & Employees!

Your Library and the Arts  

by Michael Baldwin, Board Member

Your Marble Falls Public Library isn’t just about books. Books will always be the library’s primary offering, but libraries have also always been sources of art for their communities. Why is art important? Think about the great civilizations of history. What do we remember about them? Their business activities? Their sports? Their military conquests? No, we mostly remember them by the art they produced. From the golden mask of ancient Egypt’s King Tut to the ceramics and scroll paintings of ancient China to the Acropolis and statues of the Greek gods. The Phoenicians were highly successful merchants, but they produced no lasting art and so have been mostly forgotten. Similarly, the Mongols of Genghis Khan conquered the world, but produced no art. They are little remembered as a civilization.

We revere, preserve, and study the art of all civilizations because it helps us learn about our historical roots. But more important, the arts represent the highest attainments of the human imagination. Our own imagination can be inspired and our mental and emotional lives greatly enriched by studying and participating in the arts at whatever level.

Thus, the library provides a vital service to the community by encouraging the arts, by displaying local art, and by providing space for artists to engage with the public about the arts. Your Marble Falls Library features paintings by local visual artists, provides festivals for local authors, sponsors musical programs, and involves children and adults in producing art of all kinds.

Artificial intelligence will become more important and ubiquitous in our lives. But AI does not have imagination or creativity; it can only copy and manipulate art produced by the human imagination. So your library will continue its vital function of providing not only information and literature but will also help you enjoy all the arts. Let the library stimulate your imagination!